Tag Archives: Miller N. Resor

This week’s edition of the Jackson Hole News & Guide has an article about the Summit by Miller N. Resor titled Riders, makers to push fat bikes at weekend confab:

Regional snow bikers hope to define etiquette and promote the sport during summit in Idaho.

Jay Petervary has ridden the snow-covered Iditarod trail in Alaska on a fat bike, but he is still amazed by the opportunities in his own backyard.

“There are probably 1.000 miles of rideable trails between Driggs and Island Park.” he said. With everything from snow-packed county roads to snowmobile tracks to trails on Snow King and now the Nordic facilities at Grand Tar ghee Resort, there are endless fat biking options in the Tetons.

Fat bikes are mountain bikes with wide forks that can accommodate fat, 4-inch-wide tires. Al though traveling over snow is an ideal use for fat bikes, they are also touted as excellent for navigating sandy beaches, loose gravel or even mountain bike trails.

Starting Friday, the second annual Fat Bike Winter Summit and Festival will call together fat-bike enthusiasts, industry representatives and land managers for a three-day gathering aimed at celebrating and promoting the sport.

The summit will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Sawtelle Mountain Resort in Island Park, Idaho. “They are super-fun bikes in general,” Peter- vary said. “They put a smile on your face. Old people love them, and while cross-country skiing is hard to learn, everybody rides a bike.”

On Friday, demos showcasing the newest de signs in the industry will be available at two sem inars aimed at new fat bike riders setting out on public and private trails.

Petervary, who has helped Fitzgerald’s Bicycles and Quality Bicycle Products put on the summit, said that as fat hiking starts to catch on, it is im portant for the growth of the sport to define rules of etiquette and to work with public and private landowners.

“We want to show responsible use,” Petervary said. “and we want to work together.”

On Saturday, 60-kilometer and 25-k bike rac es will take place on the trails around Sawtelle Mountain Resort. The races will be followed by a fat-bike expo. ¡n the afternoon there will be a fat- bike clinic followed by an awards ceremony and party.

Sunday will be dedicated to more demos and more riding. Tracy Petervary, Jay Petervary’s wife, will lead a women-only group ride while her husband leads a mixed group.

The summit will also include two dinners, two breakfasts, beer and a bunch of free gear, all for the $99 registration fee. Members of the Inter national Mountain Bicycling Association will re ceive a $10 discount.

There are still bunkhouse accommodations available at the Sawtelle Mountain Resort. For information about the summit and a full schedule visit FatBikeSummit.com.